How To Make A Dopero Kite

1-Skewer Dopero: Template, Tips, Step-By-Step eBook

Here's how to make a Dopero kite! The Template and Tips might be sufficient, otherwise try the step-by-step eBook containing the MBK 1-Skewer Dopero Kite instructions. In fact, the eBook covers the entire 1-Skewer Series of MBK kites.

The Template and Tips below should be enough if you are keen kite person. If you have put together a number of kites before, with a few different kinds of bridles, the 1-Skewer Dopero will be a piece of cake! Everything you need, apart from the skewers perhaps, might already be lying around your house somewhere. I'm assuming you know how to make a Dopero kite with low overall weight and appropriate knots.

The 1-Skewer Dopero Kite is quite small at 29 cm (1 foot) in span, and even shorter in height. It flies best with a short tail looped between its vertical spars.

The template shown above represents one side of the kite sail of course.

How To Make A Dopero Kite - Tips

• 30cm bamboo BBQ skewers worked well for me. You might be working with 12" skewers, which is pretty much the same.
• Try positioning the template so the edge of a bag becomes the center-line of the kite.
• For more durability, edge the sail with sticky tape. Over-doing it will increase weight and decrease stability though!
• Cap each spar tip with a single piece of tape, wrapped around and stuck on both sides of the plastic sail.
• Despite the small size, a 4-point bridle is the most logical for this kite, with 2 of those going to the twin keels at the rear. Attach the flying line with a shiftable knot to get an adjustable towing point.
• Tie a simple tail to the vertical spars. A length of about 6 times the height of the kite is a good starting point. Being an old hand, I'm sure you will experiment with more or less tail, depending on how the kite flies!
• Bend some dihedral into both horizontal spars, strengthening the bends with glue if they crack and weaken too much.

Just getting back to that eBook again, it's a nice reference if you want to try a whole range of different kites from time to time. The info is pitched at the beginner, with very detailed instructions on a range of kite-making topics.

However, the book is well-organized so the more experienced kite-maker can quickly scroll through and pick out bits of detail that are helpful or interesting. The long Table Of Contents helps too!

Click here for more info on the eBook 8 MBK Kites To Make - The Complete 1-Skewer Series.

How To Make A Dopero Kite - Flying!

You know how to fly, so I won't elaborate here. Except to say that we have had a number of enjoyable flights with this tiny Dopero kite! As long as you don't let out a huge amount of line, it will happily sail around at a 45 to 50 degree line angle in moderate winds. With enough tail, and accurate construction, it will put up with quite fresh winds too.

Like its much bigger brothers, this little Dopero responds well to rising air. However, at this size, don't expect too much! In the video, it's coping well with a somewhat gusty moderate breeze.

Here's a picture of the original black plastic MBK Skewer Dopero kite in flight.

Have fun flying, and I hope you've enjoyed seeing how to make a Dopero kite the MBK way!

By the way, if you would rather make a bigger Dopero that is twice as tall as the 1-Skewer design, why not try the 2-Skewer Dopero kite instead. Or, going twice as tall again, the nice big Dowel Dopero kite could be just the ticket!

Last updated: 24 Feb 2010